Summary:
Puttappa has been closely associated with politicians for the past several years and had become a member of Rajya Sabha and chairman of Kannada Watchdog Committee due to his proximity to people in power. However, none of them turned up. DHARWAD: Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha president and veteran journalist Patil Puttappa regretted that successive governments in the state failed to unify the people of Karnataka mentally although the state was unified under linguistic lines in 1956.Speaking at his felicitation programme at DVH Kalakeshtra on turning 100 here on Monday, Puttappa said governments neglected the northern parts of the state in all respects and that has led people to demand a separate state . He said the state’s unification came after a struggle and dividing the state was not desirable.The government should stop meting out step-motherly treatment to North Karnataka and the people of the region, he said.If the injustice to the region continues, the demand for a separate north Karnataka will gain momentum and it will turn into a movement, which can become difficult for the government to handle, he warned.Writer Go Ru Channabasappa recalled his association with Puttappa and hailed the veteran’s contribution as an activist, journalist and politician. Senior Congress leader Shyamanur Shivashankarappa said Puttappa’s straight talk and frank opinions had earned him admiration of the people while they antagonized people in power.Head of Murugha Mutt Mallikarjun Swami, Nijagunananda Swami of Nishkal Mantap, municipal administration minister C S Shivalli, MLC Basavaraj Horatti, former minister Vinay Kulkarni and office bearers of Karnatak Vidyavardhaka Sangha felicitated Puttappa.Patil Puttappa’s felicitation was attended by Kannada activists from different parts of North Karnataka, but political leaders skipped the programme..